Ventilator and mechanism for operating same



March 20, 1945. w. J. wODHAMs 2,372,154

VENTILATOR AND MECHANISM FOR OPERATING SAME Filed July 17, 1942 2Sheets-Sheet 1 ,4free/wir W. J. WOODHAMS VENTILATOR AND MECHANISM FOROPERATING SAMEl March 20, 1945,

Filed July 17, 1942 2 sheets-'sheet 2 V /m/wro/e: 14./ .j M600/Mw.;

Patented Mar. 20, 1945 `VENTILAIOR AND MECHANISM FOR i OPERATING SAME lWalter J. Woodhams, Marshall, Mich., assigner to, s Woodlin Metal`Products Company, Marshall, Mich.. a firm owned and operated byWalter JWoodhams and Alfred Laughlin as copartners Application July 17, 1942,Serial No. 451,250

7 claims.

The present invention relates broadly to ventilators and ventilatoroperating mechanisms, and in itsv speeiiic phases it relates moreparticularly to ventilators of the `type suited for use in the roof of ahouse trailer or-the like.

Ventilatorsof various types are in common use, and in general the typeto which the present invention belongs might be classed as roof orskylight ventilators. The standard type of ventilator used in housetrailer roof constructions involves a metal frame having telescopingmembers which facilitate iltting roofs of various thickness. The topclosure panel is hinged at one edge to the outer telescoping memberwhich ts the roof opening, and the mechanism for opening and closingthis member is mounted on a short bracket connected only on the innertelescoping member at the hinge side voi the assembly. Thisinnertelescoping member is insertable into the other member from thebottom thereof when same is in place in the roof opening. Ventilatorshaving this type of construction are a constant source of trouble, due,Jin a large measure, to the operating mechanism bracket tending to breakloose under operating conditions, and particularly under conditionswhere the ventilator is open and the trailer is being hauled at evenmoderate speed in conventional manner. In spite of the complexities ofassemblies involving telescoping `members, the diinculty of sidewiseanchoring 'the bottom inserted telescoping member, andthe breakagedifficulties, this type of construction has remained standard for manyyears. It was with l a view to improving ventilatorconstructions,simplifying same, and avoiding the prior breakage diiiiculties that thepresent invention was devised. i

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the provisionof' a roof ventilator of simplied and highly stable construction.

Another Objectis to provide a roof ventilator which utilizes astabilized andsecurely supported operating mechanism which minimizes theprevious breakage diiliculties. l

A still further object is to provide 'a roof ventilator wherein the topclosure panel of same is `operated through a suitable mechanism mountedand the side directly opposite thereto.

A still further object is to provide an operating mechanism supportingmember which strength- A sun further object 1s to provide a roofyventilator assembly utilizing an, open ended thimble with outturned angeat the lower portion ofthe roof opening into which the ventilator is tobe installed, and a metal construction roof ventilator frame memberadapted to telescope into said thimble from theupper end thereof, saidventilator assembly having a removable screen mounted directly on thelower face of said frame member.

A still further object is to provide a roof` ventilator wherein theoperating handle of same is substantially at or above ceiling elevation.

Still further objects and advantages of the presentinvention will appearas the description proceeds. H y

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, consists vof the means hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed outin the claims, the annexed drawings Vand thefollowing description setting forth indetail certain means for carryingout `the invention, such disclosedmeans illustrating,

'direction of the varrows, and with.l the cover v member in closedposition.

`cover member in closed position.

, Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a modificationof the central portion of the assembly illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5'is a longitudinal' sectional elevation -of a modiiied form ofthe present invention as taken along line 5L5 of Figure 6, looking inthe direction of the arrows, but'with the ventilator cover member inelevated position.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation as taken along line 6-6 ofFigure'5, looking in the ldirection of the arrows, butwith theventilator In closed vehicles, suchas house trailers, it is commonpractice to provide a pair of roof ventilaters, one of which is adaptedto open facing forward, and the other to open facing rearward of thetrailer. These ventilators facilitate the delivery of fresh air and theremoval of stale air from the ,trailer interiory to` overcome unpleasantstufness in hot weather,l and in some cases cooking odors and fumes. Animportant characteristic of my present inventionr is .the improvement ofventilators of this type to simplify same, and at the Sametimeyto'makethem"-llsof ...cnannelfy and is conventionally anchoredstronger and less subject to breakage.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2,

and 3 of the drawings, the ventilator assembly I is provided with aframe 2,-whichQifY desired, 'may be made of wood stripsfastened.tcgether-in-n=ilgteetnfm on the-end of operating arm l2 are newventional manner. This frame may be provided with an outercircumferential Igroove*intofwhich the inner edge of ange 3 is adaptedto be tted in manner forming a Huid-tight joint.

`v'Mounted on angel 3 ibyvmeans of: hinges 4 is al #top-"closure 'panellfor' .cover/member'v A5. This cover mernlber V-maybefmade :out foivwood,metal, synthetic plastic material in relatively rigidi-form, or thelike, 4but for convenience :and ease 'of constructiomsame ispreferably'made 'of sheet steel. For insulation purposes,- a panel fof'fibrous sheet insulating material 6, such asCeloteX orMasonite,

maybe4 placed inside oflcover member* 5 and held *there in conventionalmanneryf or instance,

'by-means of a sheet metal-member Aor members '30 `Ijsp.ot"=weldedor-otherwise' fastened to cover member 5. Cover member 'maybe provided with aglass panel if desired, "without departingfrom thespirity of the-presentv invention, and 'the grammatically 'illustrating`both this construction and the` plain construction shownY in detail inFigures 2 and v3. "-'In preferredY construction, a gasket 8 of rubber,or other suitablegasket materialfis provided ontheupper endof frame 2to' provide a seal with cover'member 5 when V.tl'le-la'tterfis in closedposition.

The-"raising and `lowering ofA cover member 5 is Apreferablyaccomplishedgby means of amechanism `of 'the' type diagrammaticallyillustratedin the; drawings. ln,` preferredA construction this mechanism*utilizes a channel 9 vformed-from heavy' *sheetvmetal'with`fthe-11pperlwface of the .channel open andtheends 'of sameflanged outwardto form end members .l.adapted to be an- "chored toframeZ 2 by means' of l.stove bolts for screws ,.I I.. Operating arm .l2mounted on a suitlable pintle I3, whichpassesjthrough channel 9 'atasuitable point between its .en-ds; has teeth I 4, cut onitslowerendinanarc, thecenter. line of which coincides withthe center line of pintle.13. ,Theuseof an.,open.11pper,facechannel 9 .permits .operating .armLI2 .to vpassinto. the channel when covermember 5 isloweredinto `closed.position; Spacers 32 may ,be..usedV toposition` oper- .ating arm .1.2.on. pintle I 3. between the .upturned flangespf zchannel, and. thesespacers may .be

either loosely mounted lon. the x-pintle,:or. anchored.tofthe-.channeharm .orpintlaf- Pivotal'ly mounted on .the :upper end.iof operatingarm ,fl a sub-k .stantiallylr hook-shaped. member :I 5...adapted .to lengage the a lower .flange `of -a .substantiallyUshaped..o1'. .Jfshapedslide member .Iwhichis mounted .on the inner.face ..of.fcov.er member 5 member is preferably ,heid in'. engagement@with Isli-de f member .I 6. -by means ofzfthegnppere. end of .operatingarm .I2 whichrcontacts the-backtface 5 with the teeth I4 on the .lowerendl of operating arm l2. The upper. end of .shaft I8 may be held inplace with the worm gear and arcuate ...teeth Min operative mesh bymeans of a suitable holding member I9 which extends crosswise .theretaThe point of passage of shaft I8 through a suitablesmall .opening in thebottom face of channel 9 providesvv the second point of support.oishaftl.sothat worm gear I1 and arcuate in suitable meshing position.An operating han- Kdle 2D may befastened to the lower end of shaftAIthin-.conventional manner for the rotation of same.

i'Ir-fdemed,the mete 'ohannermay be einnihated, -and'the worml gear,aswell `as operating arm'pintleV I3; mounted on a short frame member 2lV(Figure 4); Whichmay be in the form of an open top channel` `sectionporequivalent ,ele-

ment. This assembly in turn may be mounted between a 'pair of woodenstrips l22 and 23, which extendcompletely'acrossframe 2 ofthe assemblyandare anchored at theends thereof tothe frame 'by nailing, "screwing,thek use of jangle brackets 24 andy AZt'uor otherconventional means.This type `of construction'is particularly desirable where the obtainingof metal for channel 9 is' diicult.

'Where'the Ventilatoris to be `.installed in roof panel '26;*an openingofthe required size will be vshowing in Figure 1*'is to `be considered.-fas" dia- "5 cnt-'in vtheroofand .a suitable roof lopening frame `21YAinstalled therein 'in conventional manner. The roof ventilatorassembly, astypically shown in 'Figure l, isjthenplaced in the frameopening -andv .anchored in place ,bymeans of screws 28 W `.(Eigure 2,),or the. equivalent. .Asealing material, such as oakum, .rubber.asphalt,paint, white lead. or'the like, wouldnormallybe placed .between .ange 3andthe top. .otrofof panel. 26. so 5 that when screws 28 are tighteneddown, a watertightseal will be made.. Elange- 3.of .the assembly,v-wheninstalled on aroofas shown, acts as a barrier ornbackstopforwaterflowing: -along the ...top surface, of .roof panel 26, .andhencemakes 5() lthistype.. of...construction exceptionally lwater tight..Handle 20,. whichtis: preferably removably mounted inconventionallmanner on shaft I8, may. be removed. if. a screen is tobeinstalled', and subsequentlyv yreplaced after .screen 29v lmounted .on.frame .30 is. anchored Vinplace by means of .manner minimizing v thepossibility of 1 leakage undernange.

AAnother form. of thepresent invention'. is illus- .tratedrin-Figures,5. and.. 6;*wherein' frame 2a ris made of metal, preferably sheet metal,and pro- ,vided with aside flange V8a aswell as` a topiiange `33. While`iiange f 3a `may .be tightened: down directlyonto roof panel 2B, itisnormally preferable.to use packing 34 under iiange 3a so that .whenscrews 28aare .tighteneddowm aztightly sealed joint willfresult.`packing may be of various forms, such as oakum, felt, cork, rubber,cloth, or the like. Where a non-water-proof packing is used for thispurpose, it is preferable to 'pre-treat it with a water-proofingmaterial suchr as tar, asphalt,rubber cement, or the like.

Before installing the ventilator, an open-ended thimble 35, vpreferablymade from sheet metal, and which may be provided with lower outturnedange 36, isv slipped into place with lthe ange against the under face ofroof panel 26, and then screws 3l are driven through suitable openings'in the sides of thimble 35 into roof opening frame v21l to hold thethimble in place. This` procedure produces a neat'and ornamentallytrimmed openhing so far as observation from below is concerned. Theventilator frame and cover member vassembly is then lowered into theopening in roof irai-ne 21, with or without packing under ilange 3athereof. Screws 28 are then inserted through suitable openings in ilange3a and driven in conventional manner into the frame 21 so asto hold theroof ventilator assembly in rigid position. This type of constructionpermits frame 2a of the venti. lator to telescope inside of ropen-endedthimble 35 while leaving channel 9 rigidly joined on frame 2a at leastat two sides thereof, as hasbeen prelower ledge of one side thereof, andat least one movable l'atching clip 39 which is preferably located onthe lower edge of the opposite sidecf said frame. A suitable screen 29awith frame 4D may be used in conjunction with said clips for closing thelower end of ventilator frame 2c. VOperating handle with thistype ofconstruction would preferably be mounted on shaft I8 in such mannerthat'same would be 'below screen 29a but ordinarily above the lower faceof flange on the end of thimble 35., The mounting :of the handleentirely .above the lower face of ange 36, or ceiling elevation,whichever is ,the lowest, presents the advantage of avoiding the dangershinge side of the assembly, means pivotally mounted on one end of said.operating arm for engaging, interlocking with, and sliding on saidslide member, and means for engaging the other end of sai'doperating armand adapted to pivotally move' same in either direction when at a pointbetween the limits of itsV travel, said cover being adapted to be heldin various positions by said arm when the latter is correspondinglymoved about its pivot by said engaging means.

2. A Ventilating device, comprising a frame, a co'ver member for saidframe, hinge means for joining one edge of said cover member to saidframe, a slide member on the under face of said cover member, said slidemember being substantially perpendicular to the hinge edge of said covermember, a supporting means joined to said frame on the inner face of theside thereof on which said hinge means is mounted, said supportingmea-ns extending to and joiningthe side of said frame which is oppositeto thatcarrying said hinge means, an operating arm pivotally joined infixed location to said supporting means between the ends thereof formovement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the hinge axis ofsaid cover member, a pivoted means on one end of said operating arm forengaging, interlocking with, and sliding on said slide member, and meansfor engaging the other end of said operating arm and adapted topivotally swing same in either direction when at a point between thelimits of its travel, said cover being adapted to be held in variouspositions by said arm when the latter is correspondingly moved about itspivot by saidengaging `means.

' An operating mechanism for a ventilator cover adapted to iit and covera frame for an incident to the use of handles projecting intofa;

trailer at elevations below c eiling level, although the latter isstandard practice so far as present day house trailer roof ventilatorsare concerned.

The pre-sent improved method'ofmounting the operating assembly providesa simple solution to the previous breakage difliculties, whilethe'telescoping of the trimming thimble over the frame portion of theassembly provides a combination which. is entirely independent ofmoderate variations of house trailer roof thickness. Other modes ofapplying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of thoseexplained, change being made as regards the mechanism and combinationsherein disclosed, provided the means stated. by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be v employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly icover member. saidslide member being substantially perpendicular to the hinge edge of saidcover member, a supporting means joined to said frame on the inner faceof the hinge side thereof.

the other end of said supporting means also being fastened to saidframe, an operating arm pivotally joined in fixed location on saidsupporting means at a point substantially spaced from the openingthrough a panel wherein said cover is pivotally connected to said frameat one edge thereof, said mechanism comprising an open top channelmember anchored at one end to the inner face of said frame at the sidethereof Whichfcarries said pivotal connection to said cover member, andat the other end to the inner face of the opposite jside of said frame,an operating arm, means for pivotally mounting said operating arm onsaid channel member a substantialrdistance from both ends of the latterand in position to move between the side members of said channel inaplane substantially perpendicular to said ventilator cover, the end ofsaid operating arm adjacent the pivot thereof having an arcuate toothededge, a worm gear in operative mesh with said toothed edge, means formounting said worm gear in said open top channel, and means for rotatingsaid Worm gear, whereby said operating arm may be moved on the pivotthereof.

4. A house trailer roof ventilator, which consists of a frame, anoutwardly projecting flange extending completely around the outer faceof said frame, a cover member, hinge means for joining one edge of saidcover member to said flange. a slide member on the under face of saidcover member, said slide member lying in a plane substantially parallelto theplane of movement of said cover member on said hinge means, anoperating arm. means for connecting one end of said operating arm tosaid slide member for movement thereon duringopening and closing of saidroof ventilator, a pivot `for said operating arm, said operating armbeing mounted on said pivot near but spaced from the end thereof remotefrom that connected to said slide member, a supporting means extendingacross said frame from the hinge means carrying side thereof to theQpposite. side-:means ion fastening said supporting means atbothends tosaid frameI said .supporting meanshavng spacedapartside members, said.pivoty carrying saidpperating arm between the side members oi said:lsupporting means, an arcuate toothed edge on thepivot. mounted end ofsaid operating arm, Worm. gear inoperative mesh withf said; ltoothededge, vand-means for, .holding saidrwormgear in place and Arotatingsamefor openingy andclosing, said ventilator.

,5. Afhouse .trailer roof` ventilator, which consists of-a'twoodeniframe, a gasket .0n the upper .edge of saidframaan outwardlyprojeotingmodfera'teI zthickness'fwooden. angepextending comp'letely,y around theouter face ,orsaid ,frame and anchored :in afsuitable: groove. in sama;a sheet ,metaicover member, hinge ymeans for joiningy one edge .of-.saidcover member tothe outer edge. of saidfflange,` a .substantiallyU-shaped slide memberon the.: under .face of said cover member, saidslidefmember lying in a plane substantially paral- .lelrtothe planeoixmovement of :said;.,cover member on said `hinge means, insulatingmeans on the under face oft said: coverfmember," an operating arm,pivotally". mounted; .hook-shaped: means for connecting one endv of.said operating arm to said -slideimember formovement thereon duringopening' and.' closingor said` roof ventilator; a pintle :for-saidoperating arm; said operating arml being mounted on 'said-pntleznear butspaced fromv the end thereof -remoti-:ffrom` that; connected-tol said.'slide rmember, a vchannel .shaped e supporting -means extending.across 'said trarne'Y frornl the hinge means carrying/'- side thereof;`to thel opposite side, means for fastening: said supportingmeansxat'bothfends'to vsaid -frame, said supportingv means having spacedapart side members :withthe open edgefaci-ng said. cover member,

`center line ofsaid arouatetoothed .edge coinciding Withgthe-fcenterline` offsaid pintle, a. Worm gear-in operative mesh `Witlrsaid toothededge and adapted upon rotation toimove said cover memberin'therangefbetween closed and open positions, and'crank'including meansiorholding said .worm gear inplace onfsaid supporting member androtatingfsame for 'opening and closing said `ventilator.

i 6. xA ventilatingdevicer adapted for uselnla suitable size opening vthrough -.a. panel, which comprises: .a .thimble member@ adapted. `to.nt into saidopening from onefsidethereof, afirame membervwith outwardlyprojecting flange; said flange being adapted to .be joined. :to: said:panel when said framemember is insertedfinsaid opening in oppositedirection to saidthimble; said vframe telescoping inside of said.thimblefa cover member, means :for,pivotal1y .join-ing` ,said covermember to said projecting ilange,Al asl-ide member on the under faceoi-,said-covermember., said slide member being mounted `substantiallyperpendicular to the piVoted-edgeof said cover, a supporting meansjoined tosaid frame onfthe. inner face of one side thereof, the otherendof said supporting means aisobeing fastened .totV said frame,l an.operating arm .pivotally joined tto... lsaid supporting ineens, meansonone end oisaid operating arm forengagng. and sliding onlsaidslidemember, ...and means for engagingther other end of. saidy operating.arm, said last named means being adaptedto pivotallyzmove said arm ineither direction about itspivo-t when at apointI .between thelimi-tsofits travel.

7.. :Al Ventilating, device adapted. for, use in a .Suitable sizeonenngthrough apanel, which comprises a :metal thimblemember adapted to iitinto said opening from one sidethereof, a metal frame member withoutwardly projectingflange, saidv Aflange being adaptedtobe joined tosaid panel when said frame member is inserted in said opening in..opposite direction .to v said thimble.

said frame. telescoping inside of said .thimb1e, a

Aonatiie inner face. of the .side thereofcn which said yhinge meansvis.mounted the other .end of .said supportingmeans also being -astened tosaid frame, an operating .arm pivotallyjoined. to saidsupportingineanse. means on .one end.. of said operating .arm forengaging.and,..sliding on said slide member,and.means for vengaging .the.other end; of. said operatingarm, said lastnamed means being adapted.to pivotally. movesaid arm in either direction about its pivotwhen at apoint between the limits of its travel.

vWAL'IER J. WOODHAMS.

